The Lavelle Preparatory Charter School receives a $20,000 National Grid Green Cinderella grant. From left to right: seventh graders Jacinda Kissi, 12; Teree Davis, 12; and sixth grader Zoey Cruz, 12; Ken Byalin, president of Lavelle Preparatory Charter School; Ken Daly, president of National Grid New York; looking on are hoteliers Lois and Richard Nicotra, who own the property on which Lavelle Prep sits.
(Staten Island Advance Jan Somma-Hammel )

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - BLOOMFIELD - The faculty and students of the John W. Lavelle Preparatory Charter School settled into their new home in the Corporate Park of Staten Island two months ago, and in the time since, the school's outlook seems to have brightened just like the colorful leaves on the grounds of its home, the Teleport.

"I think it's going to be a wonderful experience for our students," said school president Ken Byalin, referring to Lavelle's new digs in the decidedly corporate environment. "It's a different environment for many of our students. A lot of them come from relative disadvantages, and to begin to see themselves as belonging in a setting like this can help them transform their vision of what's possible in their lives."

When Lavelle opened its doors two years ago, the school had one sixth-grade class and 75 students. At the start of this academic year, Lavelle is operating with a full middle-school and a total of 240 students in sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade.

"We add a sixth-grade class every year. Eventually we'll be sixth-through-twelfth," said Byalin of Lavelle's progress. "Each year, as the program rolls out, it's a new challenge."

The student body includes children with emotional problems and special needs, but mainstream general education students are part of the mix, as well.

As Lavelle enters new territory, Byalin is as confident as his staff.

"We have wonderful teachers, a terrific energy and a great time. Our goal is to get every one of our kids to college," he explained. "Some of them come in very far behind. It takes a lot of work on the part of the kids and on the part of the families. Our teachers are wonderful and they'll get the kids where they want to go."

The school's new home received a bit of helpful hardware recently, and last Wednesday, the school president and principal met with National Grid New York president Ken Daly to receive a $20,000 Green Cinderella Grant from National Grid to improve fresh-air intake.

The renovations at the new location, which had been empty for years before the Nicotra Group purchased the property in 2008, included installation of an energy-efficient air exchange to increase fresh air intake from 10 percent to 25 percent.

"For National Grid, it's an opportunity to partner with a school within our community," said Daly. "In this case, the partnership gets the school energy-efficient products. It keeps the costs down, teaches the school about the environment and teaches the students about using energy wisely."

Lavelle's staff was happy to accept, especially as the school anticipates growth.

"This space is definitely not your grandmother's school," said Principal Evelyn Finn. "It's flowing. It's green, and green as we can make it – and this grant will certainly be more helpful to that."

The 15-classroom school will expand to 21 classrooms next year, said the principal.

"We'll move next year to take a little more space (in the building next door)," said Ms. Finn, noting that the current site will eventually be Lavelle's high school section.

Corporate Park property owners and hoteliers Richard and Lois Nicotra, who own the property the Lavelle Charter School occupies, were on hand for the National Grid presentation. Nicotra said the school's setting should play a great role in the students' experience.

"When you come into these gates, I compare it to Harvard. You're not getting off on a street corner someplace. Your environment helps you and it makes you what you are, in some respects," said Nicotra. "It's an opportunity not too many other students would have."

Ms. Finn is thrilled to be a part of the experience, and said her faculty members are the stars of the staff.

"Here we are," the principal said, glancing around at students in the hallway. "We kind of pinch ourselves all the time."